Mary Richards

Mary Lynn Richards of College Station died the morning of Monday, January 12, from complications of Lewy Body Dementia. She was eighty-one. The funeral service is set for 11 a.m. Friday, January 16, at First Baptist Church in College Station.

Mary Lynn was born on November 4th, 1933, to Thomas Elwood and Nodia Florence Ray in Rogers, Texas. Thomas was a farmer and Nodia ran the local school in Academy, Texas. Mary Lynn attended the one room schoolhouse where her mother taught. She graduated from high school at the tender age of 16. Her graduating class consisted of her and one other student.

She met and married Hoy Richards in 1950, the service was officiated by Hoy’s father Troy, a Baptist preacher. Hoy was working for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Little River at the time and had hopes of becoming a signalman for the railroad. The Korean War intervened and when Hoy received his draft notice he decided to enlist in the Marines. Hoy and Mary Lynn moved to Camp Pendleton, California, where son Cloy was born. In 1955, they returned to Texas and Dinetha was born in Little River. In 1957 Hoy and Mary Lynn enrolled at Texas A&M University, where Hoy pursued his Bachelor’s in Engineering and Mary Lynn her PHT (Putting Hubby Through) degree; this same year, the Richards began a more than fifty year relationship with First Baptist Church of College Station. While at Texas A&M, Mary Lynn worked in the College of Animal Husbandry. Mary Lynn and Hoy graduated in 1959 Mary Lynn received a “PHT Diploma” and even an “Aggie Ring.” Glenn was born in 1960. In 1963, Mary Lynn went to work at First Baptist Church College Station. In the early days of the church, when they were between pastors, Mary Lynn was the only employee of the church. Mary Lynn held many positions including secretary, church clerk, administrative secretary and finally financial secretary. She worked at First Baptist for more than 30 years.

After their own children left the nest Hoy and Mary Lynn opened their home to the daughter of friends that was attending A&M and needed a place to stay. When she graduated she recommend another Aggie in need and thus a tradition was born. Eventually more than ten students lived with Hoy and Mary Lynn while attending A&M. Many of them refer to Mary Lynn as their Aggie Mother to this day. Hoy and Mary Lynn travelled widely, visiting Israel, Russia, Europe, and beyond. Mary Lynn was an enthusiastic collector. She operated a booth at the Corner of Time in downtown Bryan. She was, alas, better at buying than selling and her collections grew rather than diminished.

Mary Lynn was dearly loved, and will be missed by her many friends and family.

Mary Lynn was preceded in death by her husband Hoy; and her brothers, Billy Joe and Donald Lee. She is survived by her sons, Cloy Andrew Richards and wife Melanie, and Glenn Allen Richards; her daughter, Dinetha Lynn Thompson and husband Jonathan; three sisters, Phyllis Lamill Palmer of Conway, Arkansas, Beverly Northen and husband Homer of Dallas, and Gloria Belle Moore of Temple; sister-in-law, Karen Ray; grandchildren, Kim Hodge, Joey Richards, Tracy Thompson, Terry Thompson, Nathan Thompson, Tiffany Yowell, Laurel Richards; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, www.hospicebrazosvalley.org